AbstractIf disruption in the ongoing functions of consciousness,

AbstractIf we look at the history of psychology and study of its contents, we can see that it has been questioned because it is a subject that deals with behaviour and mental activity. Some of the subject matters like Dissociative Identity Disorder are hard to observe, understand and study scientifically and because of these reasons questions are not easily answered. Also because of the false claims surrounding the subject matter it is still viewed as controversial subject.Dissociative Identity Disorder : Myth or reality?Since the beginning of psychology there has been a lot of questions raised on the validity of the subject. The term ‘Psychology’ is derived from Greek word ‘psyche’ and ‘logos’ which is translated into soul/mind and study respectively. In union it meant study of soul or mind, which is not a visible or tangible thing(Colman, 2000). So, it made the study more harder than other branches of science. In more advanced terms the Psychology is systematic, scientific study of behaviours and mental process.(Plotnik, 2013)One of the subjects that psychology deals with is Abnormality in the behaviour of a person compared to others. One of the disorder is Dissociative Identity Disorder(DID). DID can be understood simply from its name, dissociation refers to disruption in the ongoing functions of consciousness, memory, identity or perception(Kluft, 2010). So, as described in DSM – IV patient with DID has two or more distinct personality state with each personality with its own perception and thinks about the environment and one’s self.In the cases of Dissociative identity disorder, the patients have shown that they have problematic past, especially in their childhood. Most of the patient report that they had traumatic past with their caretaker that includes physical or sexual abusive past (Ellason,1997). While observing their past there seems to be a pattern of going through a lot of stress repeatedly with no one to protect them (Kulft, 2010). The person suffering from DID exhibits two or more distinct personalities state or distinct identities. These Personality state control the individual’s behavior followed by a dissociative amnesia in which the patient is not able to remember the details from the time period of the other personality. The disorder is caused by the inability to integrate identity, memory and consciousness. The patient expresses that there is one dominant personality type that is recognized as primary personality which carries the given name of the person. This personality is found to be passive, dependent, guilty and depressed(American Psychiatric Association, 2000)